Department for International Development: MoD Liaison

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vadera on 17 December 2007 (WA 95), when the Department for International Development last had a dedicated liaison officer working with the Ministry of Defence; what the rationale was for not continuing the appointment of a dedicated liaison officer; and what representations the Department for International Development received from the Ministry of Defence before the decision was made not to continue this post.

Baroness Crawley: The Department for International Development (DfID) last employed a dedicated member of staff providing advice on civilian-military issues at headquarters level in November 2007. DfID currently has two identified liaison points for civilian-military issues at headquarters level in the conflict, humanitarian and security department. Many other DfID staff work closely with Ministry of Defence personnel either at country level or through mechanisms such as the conflict prevention pools, the stabilisation unit and the security sector development advisory team (SSDAT). We believe that this arrangement will provide a better and more appropriate range of engagement with both the Ministry of Defence and the military.

Education: Student Support

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many serving prisoners currently receiving maintenance grants or loans will be affected by the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/235); of those, how many are on remand; how many are eligible for release before 31 August 2008; and how many of those eligible for release before 31 August 2008 entered prison after 31 August 2007; and
	What expenses are intended to be covered by student maintenance grants and loans; and which of those expenses cease when a student enters prison.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: Financial support for students attending full-time higher education courses is provided through the Student Loans Company (SLC) in conjunction with relevant local authorities which assess entitlement under the student support regulations. The total package of student support available comprises six elements:
	tuition fee loans to cover the cost of tuition charged by the higher education institution (HEI);maintenance loans and/or grants to help cover general living costs, such as accommodation, food, travel and study;adult dependants grant to help students with an adult who depends on them financially;childcare grant for students with dependent children in registered or approved childcare;parents' learning allowance for students with dependent children to meet course related costs such as books, materials and travel; and disabled students' allowances (DSAs) to help students in higher education with the extra costs they may incur on their course as a direct result of a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty.
	Ministers take the view that prisoners have no need of maintenance support for higher education, since they are accommodated at public expense. The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 therefore provide that a student who is a prisoner is not eligible for any part of the full-time student support package, with the exception of tuition fee loans and disabled students' allowance. The amended regulations came into force on 28 February.
	A detailed breakdown of the number of serving prisoners affected by the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 is not yet available. In his Statement to the House on 7 February, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills stated that he would endeavour to make further relevant information available to the House prior to any debate on the revised regulations.

EU: Tax Havens

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the Government of Germany's proposal for new European Union legislation to compel tax havens to disclose the extent of funds held by European Union residents in their banks.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The issue of tax evasion through banks in tax havens was discussed at ECOFIN on 4 March. The UK, Germany and other member states made clear their determination to tackle the problem and invited the European Commission to bring forward its review of the savings directive. The savings directive enshrines the principle of exchange of information as the means of combating tax evasion and is the key instrument at EU level for addressing this issue. It is complemented by agreements with countries and territories outside the EU. Any question of new EU legislation will be examined in the context of the review.

HIV/AIDS

Lord Smith of Finsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the revised global HIV and AIDS strategy will seek to ensure universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support for women.

Baroness Crawley: Taking Action—the UK's Original Strategy for Tackling HIV and AIDS in the Developing World gave particular attention to supporting women. We are now updating this to reflect progress in the global response to HIV and AIDS, which includes international commitment to the goal of universal access to a comprehensive package of prevention, treatment, care and support, in which the UK played a lead role, including at the G8 summit in Gleneagles. By definition universal access includes women.
	The feminisation of the epidemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, continues to present a major challenge. We are working with Governments and NGOs to empower women through increasing girls' access to education, reducing gender violence, enhancing economic opportunities and preventing HIV infection among women and girls. We are also promoting women's equal access to treatment, care and reproductive health services and pushing for the involvement of men in changing gender norms and caring for the ill.

International Development

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will encourage the World Bank to implement civil society priorities in International Development Association projects such as decreasing conditionality and mainstreaming the use of impact assessment.

Baroness Crawley: The World Bank follows a country-led approach to development whereby projects and programmes implemented by the International Development Association (IDA) are identified as priorities for Bank funding by the governments in the countries themselves. The UK and the Bank continue to support efforts to strengthen dialogue between civil society and governments in developing countries.
	In our discussions with civil society groups last year, they made clear to us that they saw a need for the bank to improve its practice on conditionality further and extend its use of poverty and social impact assessments. The bank has made significant improvements in its practice in these areas. This is reflected in, for example, the reduction in the average number of conditions from around 35 in 1999 to around 10 in 2007. Nevertheless, we used last year's IDA replenishment negotiations successfully to press the bank to make further improvements, including applying the good practice principles on conditionality effectively. These commit the bank to ensuring that conditions are not imposed. We will continue to work to ensure more progress on both issues.

Iraq: Refugees

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with regard to taking joint action to obtain larger and more regular payments from the Government of Iraq to Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan.

Baroness Crawley: The United Nations is best placed to help the Government of Iraq step up their response to the humanitarian situation inside and outside of Iraq. The UK is supporting the UN through financial contributions to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We welcome the Government of Iraq's pledge last month to contribute $40 million in support of internally displaced Iraqis through the newly launched UN-led consolidated appeal. We understand that the Government of Iraq have not, at present, committed further support for Iraqi refugees beyond the $25 million they pledged last year. We have no plans at this time to make a specific representation to UNHCR.
	Since 2003, DfID has provided over £130 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq, including Iraqi refugees in the region.

Israel and Palestine: West Bank and Gaza

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sums they expect to spend for the benefit of Palestinians (a) in the West Bank and Gaza, and (b) elsewhere, excluding payments to UNRWA, in each of 2007—08 and 2008—09; and whether they will break down payments in respect of the West Bank and Gaza (including payments through the World Bank or other agencies) into (1) capital investment; (2) support for Palestinian Authority salaries and current budget; and (3) payments to voluntary organisations.

Baroness Crawley: 2007-08
	We have made £41.6 million available for assistance to Palestinians in 2007-08, £18.45 million of which was delivered to the Palestinian Authority (PA) through the temporary international mechanism (TIM) and its successor, PEGASE. The TIM and PEGASE provide allowances to key workers and support to essential services. In addition, £3 million was provided directly to the PA to help pay private sector debts and a £1 million payment was made to the International Committee of the Red Cross in response to the current humanitarian situation. Our aid does not include capital investment or direct payments to voluntary organisations.
	Our support to areas outside the West Bank and Gaza Strip is channelled exclusively through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to which we have given £15.6 million in 2007-08.
	2008-09
	At the Paris Donor Conference in December 2007 the UK committed up to £243 million over three years, linked to tangible progress in peace negotiations, including progress on reform and the easing of movement and access restrictions. Our precise 2008-09 contribution has not yet been finalised although it will include £19 million to UNRWA. We are monitoring the situation closely and preparing our funding plans accordingly.

Taxation: Non-Domiciles

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a passenger in transit at either Gatwick or Heathrow airports is considered to have used a day of their non-domicile status in the United Kingdom; and
	Whether a passenger transiting between Gatwick and Heathrow airports is considered to have used a day of their non-domicile status in the United Kingdom.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Domicile and residence are separate concepts and domicile is not affected by visits to the UK whereas residence may be. If someone is neither resident nor domiciled in the UK, they are subject to tax only on UK-source income. It is only when someone establishes that they are resident in the UK that their domicile becomes relevant for UK tax purposes.
	Under the changes announced at the Budget, from 6 April 2008, any day where an individual is present in the UK at midnight will be counted as a day of presence in the UK for residence test purposes.
	An exemption will apply in the case of transit passengers. This will provide that days spent in transit, which could include being in the UK at midnight, will not be counted as days of presence so long as during the transit the individual does not engage in activities that are to a substantial extent unrelated to their passage through the UK.

UN: Relief and Works Agency

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their projected contributions to UNRWA in 2007—08, and 2008—09.

Baroness Crawley: The UK's projected contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) are £15.6 million in 2007-08 and £19 million in 2008-09.